PARKINSON S DISEASE: current aspects of ETIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS and TREATMENT Dilek Ince Gunal, MD Assoc. Prof
Definition Clinical symptoms: Pathogenesis: Etiology: Neurodegenerative syndrome with chronic, progressive course (hypokinetic-hyperrigid/tremordominant) Degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopamine neurons Idiopathic vs. symptomatic forms Involuntary tremulous motion, with lessened muscular power, in parts not in action even when supported; with a propensity to bend the trunk forward [...], the senses and the intellects being uninjured. James Parkinson (1817) 2
Milestones in research History 1817: J. Parkinson Essay on the Shaking Palsy 1873: Charcot Description of the clinical picture and and first attempts at treatment 1919: Trétiakoff Discovery of cell degeneration in the substantia nigra as anatomical substrate 1957: Carlsson Discovery of dopamine deficiency in the striatum as biochemical substrate (Nobel Prize 2000) 1979: Davis Research into the pathological mechanism using the MPTP model Ongoing: Research into genetic and neuroprotective factors 3
Milestones in therapy Drug therapy History 1946: First synthetic anticholinergics 1961: Birkmayer & Hornykiewicz Clinical use of L-dopa 1969: Schwab Discovery of the antiparkinson effect of amantadine 1963: Birkmayer Clinical use of L-dopa + decarboxylase inhibitor 1974: Calne Introduction of dopamine agonists 1975: Birkmayer Use of MAO-B inhibitors 1997: Introduction of COMT inhibitors to clinical treatment 4
6 Epidemiology Facts Epidemiology In Europe the age-correlated prevalence (per 100,000 inhabitants) is 1.6 (Europarkinson Study, 1997) Roughly 1% of all over-65s are affected Roughly 25% of Parkinson patients remain undiagnosed Average life expectancy is slightly reduced
Age-specific incidence of new cases of Epidemiology Incidence (per 100,000 inhabitants) 250 200 150 100 50 USA Iceland Japan Estonia Finland 0 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80+ Age 7
Risk factors Epidemiology Age Positive family history Possible: Poisoning with herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals Doubtful: Personality Living in the countryside Possible protective factors: Consumption of tea and coffee Nicotine 9
Cell degeneration in the substantia nigra Pathogenesis healthy Schneider E.: Diagnostik und Therapie des M. Parkinson [Diagnosis and treatment of ], de Gruyter, 1991. 10
Genetic causes Pathogenesis PARK 1 Locus: Chromosome 4q21 Gene product: α-synuclein (Polymeropoulos et al., 1997) PARK 2 Locus: Chromosome 6q25 Gene product: Unknown (Kitada et al., 1998) PARK 3 Locus: Chromosome 2p13 Gene product: Unknown (Gasser et al., 1998) 4, 4, 5... 10 PARK 4, 5... 10 PARK 4 10 10 11
Lewy bodies Microscopic findings Pathogenesis By kind permission of Prof. H. Braak Center for Morphology, Frankfurt University Hospital Copyright by MedWeb, UK 12
Lewy bodies Pathoanatomical cascade model Pathogenesis Stages of Lewy body formation: I. Dorsal vagal nucleus/olfactory bulb II. Brain stem/reticular formation III.Basal prosencephalon/ amygdala/substantia nigra IV.Mesocortex V. Neocortex association areas VI.Neocortex sensory and motor areas (Braak et al., 2002) presymptomatic symptomatic I II III IV V VI 13
14 Oxidative stress Pathogenesis Disturbed cell homeostasis through: inefficient detoxification impaired mitochondrial function Results: increased radical formation reduced ATP production DNA damage
L-Dopa metabolites in the brain L-Dopa DDC MAO-B Dopamine COMT DOPAC COMT HVA 3-MT MAO-B
Core structures of the basal ganglia Pathophysiology Caudate nucleus & putamen Thalamus Caudate nucleus Striatum Putamen Thalamus Globus pallidus Globus pallidus Substantia nigra Tail of the caudate nucleus Substantia nigra Subthalamic nucleus 16
17 Basal ganglia loops Physiological state Pathophysiology Glutamate Dopamine
18 Basal ganglia loops State in Pathophysiology Glutamate Dopamine
20 Development of symptoms Pathophysiology Cell death in the substantia nigra Dopamine deficiency in the striatum Neurotransmitter imbalance Dopamine deficiency vs. glutamate hyperactivity Dysfunction of the basal ganglia loops
22 Main symptoms Symptoms Bradykinesia Rigor Tremor Postural instability
Clinical diagnostic criteria (at least three must be satisfied) Diagnosis Unilateral onset of the Resting tremor and/or at least two of the main symptoms Progressive course Very good response to L-dopa L-Dopa-induced dyskinesia and fluctuations in efficacy No atypical signs Gerlach, Reichmann & Riederer, Springer Verlag, 2003 26
Accompanying symptoms Symptoms Vegetative Post-encephalitic seborrhea (seborrhea) Sialorrhea Digestive disturbances Disturbed micturition and potency Orthostatic hypotension Disturbed thermoregulation Psychopathological Depression Bradyphrenia Dementia 23
Exclusion criteria for Differential diagnosis Acute onset Oculogyric crises/gaze palsy Remission Neuroleptics Cerebellar symptoms Babinski s sign positive Early signs of dementia or autonomic dysfunction No response to L-dopa Gerlach, Reichmann & Riederer, Springer Verlag, 2003 34
Parkinson Plus syndrome I Differential diagnosis Multisystem atrophy Cerebellar symptoms (disturbances of equilibrium, unsteady gait, coordination disturbances) or Autonomic disturbances (drop in blood pressure, bladder disorders, impotence) Progressive supranuclear gaze palsy Postural instability as an early symptom Vertical gaze palsy (upwards or downwards) Unsteady gait Symmetrical symptoms No resting tremor 35
Parkinson Plus syndrome II Lewy body dementia Early development of dementia Fluctuating psychotic symptoms Agitation Paradoxical neuroleptic sensitivity Differential diagnosis Corticobasal degeneration Dystonia (mainly flexion dystonia of the arm) Irregular, unilateral tremor Alien limb phenomenon Cortical sensitivity disturbances Pyramidal tract signs 36
37 Secondary (symptomatic) parkinsonism Differential diagnosis Drug-induced: Toxic in origin: Other etiology: Neuroleptics Antihypertensives Antiemetics Cerebral calcium-channel blockers Reversible Carbon monoxide Lead Manganese Cyanide Methanol MPTP Not progressive Metabolic Postencephalitic Traumatic Compressive Treatable
Therapeutic options Drug therapy Treatment L-Dopa therapy/dopamine agonists Dopamine replacement Glutamate antagonist (amantadine) Inhibition of glutamatergic hyperactivity MAO-B inhibitors Central inhibition of dopamine breakdown COMT inhibitors Peripheral inhibition of L-dopa breakdown 38
39 Points of attack of drug therapies Treatment Dopamine agonists Phenylalanine Tyrosine Dopamine (DA) Glutamate antagonist Amantadine sulfate MAO-B inhibitor Glu Presynapse Glial cell
Therapeutic options Deep brain stimulation Treatment Hyperstimulation (120 Hz) in affected regions of the brain: Subthalamic nucleus Globus pallidus Thalamus Symptom and drug reduction Tremor Hypo-/hyperkinesia L-Dopa-sparing effect Invasive, reversible 40
41 Therapeutic options Transplantation Treatment TRANSPLANTATION Decrease in dopaminergic input in the striatum Dopaminergic reinnervation of the striatum
OTHER MOVEMENT DISORDERS
Movement disorders Hyperkinetic Chorea Ballism Tremor Myoclonus Tics dystonia Hypokinetic Parkinsonism: PD and All Parkinsonian Syndromes
DYSTONIA Dystonia is defined as a syndrome of sustained muscle contractions, frequently causing twisting movements and postures (Fahn 1987). Agonist and antagonist muscles contract simultaneously to produce the abnormal postures of dystonia. Dystonic movements may be slow and continuous, or fast and brief.
Dystonia may be classified by age of onset, distribution and etiology. By region of distribution, dystonia is subdivided into focal, segmental, hemi-body, and generalized dystonia. Childhood-onset dystonia may begin in a body part, presenting as focal dystonia, but typically becomes generalized, especially if the underlying cause is a genetically-based or metabolic disorder
CHOREA Chorea, from the Greek word meaning dance, describes involuntary, random, abrupt, rapid, arrhythmic, unsustained movements and twitches that seem to flow from one body part to another. The timing, direction, and distribution of choreic movements varies from moment to moment, and cannot be predicted by an observer.
chorea
ATHETOSIS Athetosis, meaning no fixed position, describes a pattern of continuous writhing movements. First coined by Hammond in 1871, the original description of athetosis was an inability to retain the fingers and toes in any position in which they may be placed. Athetosis is often linked with chorea, as in choreoathetosis, to give a sense of its continuous, writhing, twisting aspect. Athetoid movements affect the limbs, especially distally, but also the trunk and cranial structures.
MYOCLONUS Myoclonic jerks are sudden, brief muscle contractions that produce a simple quick movement. Myoclonic jerks may be repetitive and rhythmic or random and unpredictable. Myoclonus may occur at rest, with postureholding, directed movement ( action myoclonus ), or be triggered by external stimuli ( reflex myoclonus ), whether auditory, visual or tactile.
Myoclonus may be classified on the basis of 1. its distribution:focal, segmental, multifocal, or generalized or 2. site of origin: cortex, brain stem, spinal cord
PARKINSONISM and OTHER MOVEMENT DISORDERS n HEMIFACIAL SPASM: involuntary tonic or clonic contraction of muscles innervated by 7th cranial nerve Idiopathic / vascular compression of facial nerve treatment: BTX-A pharmacologic agents
TREMOR Tremor is a regular, rhythmic oscillation of one or more body parts produced by alternating or synchronous contractions of opposing muscles. Phenomenologically, tremors are classified according to two main categories: 1. tremors at rest and 2. tremors with action.
Rest tremors occur when the affected body part is in complete repose, and fully supported. The classical tremor of parkinsonism is a tremor at rest. Action tremors occur with voluntary muscle contractions, and are subdivided into postural, kinetic, task- or positionspecific, and isometric tremors
TICS Tics are repetitive, stereotyped movements or phonations that occur abruptly against a background of normal motor activity and behavior. Most tics are simple movements, such as an abrupt stereotyped ocular deviation, blink, facial grimace, or shoulder shrug. Complex tics consist of coordinated patterns of sequential movement. Tics are purposeless movements that are often preceded by an inner urge or tension that is relieved by allowing the movement to occur.
n WILSON S DISEASE curable movement disorder AR, on chr 13q14.3 (Cu transporting ATPase) failure to excrete Cu --- systemic Cu poisoning n intestinal absorption is normal n reduced biliary excretion n result: increased Cu excretion in urine initially Cu accumulates in liver then in brain, eye, kidney, bones and blood tissues. Symptoms: ages of 11-55 year clinical types: 1. Akinetic-rigid syndrome 2. Generalized dystonic syndrome 3. Tremor+ ataxia+ dysarthria: pseudosclerotic
n n n n n n n n Diagnosis: 24 hr urine cu excretion liver biopsy MRI genetic study Treatment of Wilson D-penicillamine + pyridoxine trientine Zinc n BAL? n LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
HUNTINGTON S DISEASE n AD, chorea + dementia n genetic defect: excessive trinucleotide repeat of CAG n defected protein called huntingtin n no established therapy n symptomatic treatment SYDENHAM S CHOREA n beta hemolytic streptococcus induced autoimmune disorder n between ages of 5-15 years n outcome is favorable n prophylactic penicillin therapy prevents recurrences